Ex-Power Ranger Murdered Roommate With a Sword, L.A. Cops Say

UPDATE at 8:45 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015: Charges have not been filed. Medina's lawyer says it was self defense. Details at the bottom. First posted at 7:03 a.m. Monday.

A man who once performed as a Power Ranger on the franchise's Power Rangers Wild Force, Power Rangers Wild Force: Identity Crisis and Power Rangers Samurai was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of murder. Suspect Ricardo Medina is said to have worked more recently as an exotic dancer for the troupe Hollywood Men.

The red Ranger he portrayed used a sword, and authorities say so did the 36-year-old actor when he allegedly attacked his roommate Saturday.

After being interviewed by homicide detectives, Medina was booked early yesterday on suspicion of murder. Here's what investigators believe happened, according to a statement from the L.A. Sheriff's Department:

... The victim and the suspect became involved in an argument, which turned into a physical altercation. Suspect Medina retreated to his bedroom with his girlfriend, but Victim [Joshua] Sutter followed them and forced the door open. Suspect Medina stabbed Victim Sutter once in the abdomen with a sword kept next to the bedroom door.

The stabbing was reported at 3:47 p.m. Saturday in the 38000 Block San Francisquito Canyon Road in Green Valley, deputies said.

Thirty-six-year-old victim Joshua Sutter was taken to a hospital, where he died, according to an earlier sheriff's statement.

Medina didn't make a run for it, deputies said:

Suspect Medina called 9-1-1, remained at the location and was later interviewed by Homicide Bureau detectives.

He was being held in the jail at the Palmdale Sheriff's Station. Bail was $1 million, authorities said. Medina was scheduled to appear in Antelope Valley Municipal Court Tuesday, according to sheriff's inmate records.

If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.

SHOW ME HOW

Newsletters

SUCCESS!

You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in!

UPDATE at 8:45 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015: The L.A. County District Attorney's Office has declined so far to file charges while the homicide investigation continues.

Medina's attorney said the action was self-defense, telling reporters today that the victim attacked the actor and that when he and his girlfriend retreated to a bedroom for safety Sutter broke down the door and, in the same move, fell on Medina's sword.

Medina called 911 and administered CPR to the victim, according to reports.

Dennis Romero is an L.A. Weekly staff writer. He formerly worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Los Angeles Times, where he participated in Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the L.A. riots. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone online, the Guardian and, as a young stringer, the New York Times.